DarkSky Oregon
Welcome to our Blog. Do you want to learn more about how you can help protect the night?
To learn more :
Dark Skies Over Halfway
Dark Skies Over Halfway has a community meeting on Sat. Feb. 28, from 7-8:30 pm at the Halfway Lions Hall in Halfway. We will have a program on “What are Dark Skies?”
Sign up on the Dark Skies Over Halfway Facebook page or email hello@darkskyoregon.org and mention an interest to connect with the Halfway dark skies group.
Cove in Union County
A local night-sky volunteer group is launching in Cove—and perhaps across the Grande Ronde Valley more broadly.
Local dark-sky supporter Ethan Shaw ran a table last Saturday (Jan 31st) at a climate-focused gathering at the Cove Community Center. That interaction focused on Northeast Oregon's night sky as a natural resource and preservation possibilities. It generated enthusiasm and great engagement among people attending.
Ethan will also present on DarkSky Oregon's mission and initiatives at a future meeting of the Cove Community Association. Meanwhile, Ethan has been managing a Sky Quality Meter in Cove, which is part of the Oregon Skyglow Measurement Network.
Email hello@darkskyoregon.org and mention an interest to connect with the Cove/Grande Ronde Valley group.
Blue River
The Blue River Night Sky Alliance is an ad hoc group of local residents, community and business organizations, utilities and governmental agencies. Our goal is to restore and maintain the night skies of the McKenzie River Valley one light at a time.
Thanks to the efforts of Michael McKeag, a DarkSky Oregon Board Member, Blue River has completed its lighting inventory. We currently have the distinction of only one light in the entire town being DarkSky compliant! Doug Murkley, a local architect, is working with us to identify specific luminaires we can recommend that WILL meet the lighting and recreational goals of our rural community.
Support from local organizations and businesses such as the Chamber of Commerce and Lane Electric Coop are and will continue to be of primary importance as we move forward to achieve certification of Blue River as an International Dark Sky Community.
Email hello@darkskyoregon.org and mention an interest to connect with the Blue River Night Sky Alliance.
Dark Skies Salem
On Thursday January 29th Salemanders interested in the night sky gathered at Ike Box for an inaugural meeting of Dark Sky Salem. The event planners collected 11 email addresses to begin to organize regular meetings. Folks shared why they were attending and reasoning ranged from annoyed neighbors to wildlife conservation to social justice. We agreed on some sweeping goals including but not limited to trying for another International Dark Sky Week proclamation from the City (April 13-20th), table at a local environmental event, and work towards a star party.
The next Dark Sky Salem gathering is February 26th at 5:30pm once again at the Ike Box. We hope to see you there!
Alternatively, Email hello@darkskyoregon.org and mention an interest to connect with the Salem group.
Wallowa County Region
A dark sky advocacy group in Wallowa County is beginning to come together. Their first meeting will be at the Wallowology Natural History Discovery Center in downtown Joseph (508 N Main St Slot 666, Joseph, OR 97846), Sunday, February 22, 3 - 5 pm. Tea and snacks will be provided.
Wallowa County has had a Sky Quality Meter at Wallowa Lake State Park for several years. We just added one at Grace Prairie, a very dark site north of Enterprise. One will be added soon at Enterprise High School.
Please RSVP for the meeting. Contact Joe Minato at joe.minato@darkskyoregon.org to RSVP, for more information, or with questions.
Antelope Basecamp
A family of 5th generation ranchers is working to convert an abandoned RV park and shuttered cafe in Antelope, Oregon into a world class, DarkSky Approved Lodge. Read about this exciting endeavor in "The Other Oregon, an article titled "Milky Way Dreams."
Friends of the Portland Night Sky
Sign up and get involved with Friends of the Portland Night Sky.
The December 2025 newsletter provides interesting reading and some entertainment.
Dark Skies Gorge
Dark Skies Gorge is focused on the Columbia River Gorge. This group is actively spreading the dark skies message to about 160 monthly newsletter contacts. A key current focus is advocating for Dark Sky positive language in the outdoor lighting section of an in-work update to the City of Hood River’s development code. Here’s the Dark Skies Gorge January newsletter. A newsletter sign up link is at the bottom of the linked newsletter.